President Bush, Republicans Also Reject Deal on Pro-Life Judges 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
April 27, 2005
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — In addition to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, President Bush and top Senate Republicans have rejected a deal proposed by Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid that would have pro-life lawmakers drop their bid to change the Senate rules on filibusters in exchange for votes on only a handful of pro-life judges.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan held fast to the president’s view that his judicial nominations for federal appeals and district courts deserve votes.
"Our view is that Senate Democrats need to stop playing politics and give all judicial nominees an up or down vote," he told reporters aboard Air Force One.
Bush advisor Karl Rove, told USA Today on Monday that "we believe that every judicial nominee deserves an up or down vote."
Meanwhile, Vice President Dick Cheney met with top Republicans Tuesday for a strategy session.
Though he said he hoped a compromise agreement could be reached, one of the undecided senators, Ohio Sen. George Voinovich, indicated he would vote with Frist to change Senate rules and stop filibusters from being used to block top pro-life judicial picks.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist rejected the deal in comments he made on the floor of the Senate Tuesday.
"My goal is to have fair up-and-down votes," Frist said. "Are we going to shift from that principle? The answer to that is no."
"At the end of the day, one will be left standing … the Constitution, which allows up-or-down votes, or the filibuster," Frist added.
Pro-life leaders have been encouraging grassroots pro-life advocates to ask lawmakers to allow votes on all of the president’s nominees.
"We need to let our voice be heard because the outcome of this debate will shape the future of this nation," Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said.
